Retired Fremantle Dockers Life Member Luke McPharlin is returning to the football club that sparked his career.

McPharlin, who retired in September after 256 AFL games, has joined WAFL club East Fremantle as a part-time back-line coach.

East Fremantle football manager Darryn Fry told The West Australian that McPharlin was keen to develop his coaching skills.

“For him to come back when many of those people in his time at the club aren’t around us at the moment is just absolutely fantastic,” Fry told The West Australian.

“It’s a credit to his character that he’s come back to the place where it all started for him.”

McPharlin told fremantlefc.com.au in September that he was interested in pursuing a range of interests but was yet to decide on whether he would remain involved with football in some capacity.

He played colts for the Sharks 16 years ago, before he was drafted into the AFL.

McPharlin played 244 games for Fremantle, second only to games record holder Matthew Pavlich (335).

He booted 112 goals for the club and holds the club record for rebound-50s with 659.